Terry Collins is set to stay with the New York Mets as they attempt to build a winner. Three people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday that Collins is close to an agreement to remain manager. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized and no announcement had been made. Collins' current contract expires after this season, his third in charge of the Mets. The team is expected to announce an extension for Collins at a news conference Monday. He is nearing a two-year contract, one of the people said, perhaps with a team option for 2016. "It would be a blast," Collins said. "But again, we will wait `til the end of the year to smile about it." The move comes as no surprise. Though general manager Sandy Alderson and the Mets have publicly maintained they would wait until the conclusion of the season to determine Collins' fate, it became increasingly clear late in the year that he likely would return. Fielding an inexperienced lineup depleted by injuries and trades, the 64-year-old Collins has kept the Mets competitive down the stretch without most of his top players. "If it happens, it's well-deserved," team captain David Wright said after a 4-2 loss in 10 innings to Milwaukee. "If you look at the players he's had to manage and the trades and injuries he's had to endure, he's done a nice job. Obviously we aren't where we want to be as a team, but that's not an indication of his job. We have a young team and Terry provides the fire. ... It is a really good fit." Read more http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330928121&teams=milwaukee-brewers-vs-new-york-mets
